Q&A WRITTEN REPLIES
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.VACANT PROPERTIES: More than 800 homes owned by the Department of Transport, some purchased for road schemes, have been empty for over six months, John Watts, Minister of State for Transport, disclosed last night.
He said in a Commons written reply that 324 properties had been vacant for more than six months, and a further 504 for more than a year.
At the end of April, 250 of the total of 828 dwellings were empty "because they were either awaiting sale or demolition", he reported.
Mr Watts said that the department regularly monitored the situation and tenants were found as quickly as possible for lettable homes.
"We also constantly monitor all the properties in our portfolio so as to identify at the earliest possible opportunity those which are required for road schemes and therefore need to be demolished, and those which can be declared surplus and sold."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments